Posts by okie46

49

Long list= Brothers who have ripped you off! $$$ has this happened to you?

by Witness 007 in

1. the elder i was in a bissness with decided a hand shake was not a contract, and paid me $500 dollars instead of the $3,000 he should have....i felt so stupid, but quit with him and treated him like a disfellowshiped person since....also he would pay me half a days wage when i worked from 8am till 3pm ???????

when told about this he said sorry but "couldn't work out how to re-emburse the lost hours.".

2. my elderly mum sold some furniture when moving, to a sister who promised to pay from her single parent pension in small installments........nope!

okie46

Yes, about 11 years ago as a single mom of 3 with no child support from my JW Ministerial Servant ex-husband, I sold my car to a witness family that I had known since I was 12 years old, they promised to pay it out in 3 intallments. I sold them the car cheap, it was old, but dependable. The entire family was on disability, not because they were disabled, but because they were lazy dead beats who just didn't want to work. They never paid me a dime for the car and their son went out drinking one night and wrecked the car. I never even gave them the title to it, the deal was they would get the title when they paid it off. I only asked for $750 which was to be paid in 6 payments. They obviously never registered the car in their name or updated the tag.

Speaking of car deals, the car I bought after I "sold" the above mentioned one, was bought from another witness family. After taking out an installment loan and buying the car, I found out that it had a cracked engine block, which they knew about beforehand and said nothing about. This sucked because it meant that the engine needed replaced immediately. I could not afford the payments and the new engine to fix the car, so had to make payments on a car, I could not even drive. On top of that, the son that sold me the car, had the nerve to ask ME to co-sign on his loan to buy the car that was replacing the lemon he sold me. Thank goodness I said "No".

12

Create your perfect world

by Layla33 in

jw
friends

i know we have some very imaginative people, so let's pretend we are "god".

we see how much of an economic crisis we are in, how politics is making people fight from all sides, so many religions and they are all fighting against each other, in fact, every difference can be a breaking point for division.

create a world that is functional, realistic and economically sound.. it can be as short or long as you want, but i think it would be a good place to come up with some ideas and possibly create a reality that even in our own lives, can make a difference..

okie46

What I have always wondered is why do we have to pay for food when you can't live without it, the earth doesn't charge us to grow it?

Who decided the earth could be divided up into little parcels and fenced in and then you have to pay money to live on it?

Why does the bible preach love but J.W.'s ask for money, oh excuse me, they pretend not to ask for money, but they actually do?

I hate that 70% of the United State's economy is based on retail sales aka shopping?

My perfect world would not be based on possessions, prestige or the stock market. Money would have no importance, you would not need it. We would all have our parcel of land, we would have group gardens and farms and bartering and trade between communities and different parts of the world would enable all people to have what they need. Our lives would not be based on accumulation of possessions, but on inventing ways to live and improve health and renew the resources that have been destroyed by chemicals, pollution, greed and disregard for nature. Love and respect would be the basis for all relationships, therefore, wars would not be fought, everyone would have what they need. We would design our homes and vehicles to use non polluting, renewable sources of energy. Our lives would be simple, healthy and the earth would return to a state of health, the ozone layer would return because all people would reduce their carbon imprint. Our children would be calm, healthy and childhood would once again become a time of innocence and each child would realize that they are loved and wanted, they would not ever have to experience going to bed hungry, or not have clothes to wear, or be sick and not have proper treatment. They would not have to fear being hit or yelled at by over-stressed parents or caretakers, they would not be abused or used as slaves. They would be valued and learn by example, they would be taught how to use their powers of reason to make decisions instead of spanked and yelled at or ignored. Old people would be respected and cared for, families would once again live in close proximity to each other. Science would still be a part of lives, it would be used to find solutions to cancer and old age. The whole pace of the world would slow down again, this would reduce anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, strokes, alcoholism and drug abuse. Most important of all, those jack asses in Washington would stop jerking around with daylight savings time, because it is starting to get on my nerves. Gotcha!

61

E-mail from friend alerting me to emergency instruction from GB

by Wasanelder Once in

here's a paragraph from a friend who is active.

they say it's important that we fill out this form about emergencies... poor fools.

"hi, i have been meaning to tell you that the society is telling us to fill out an emergency form that the book study conductors have and return it to them in case of an emergency.they will then give us a brochure to have that will tell us where to meet and what to have in our bags so we can grab them and leave in a hurry.

okie46

I think this information is another way for them to intrude in your personal information and have more control over the members. A most interesting question is the one asking if you are baptized and for family contact numbers. I think it is just another way to stalk faders so they can spy on them, as we know they have been guilty of doing many times over and then disfellowshiping them. I don't believe they really give a rats behind about protecting the congregation during emergencies, (other than to put on a show for the "unbelievers"), because I have personally been inside of a kingdom hall as a Tornado Warning Siren was going off outside to warn us of an approaching tornado. Now when a tornado warning siren goes off, everyone knows it is time to find shelter or crawl into a ball and cover the back of your neck, because a tornado has been spotted approaching the area where you are. The speaker would not even stop giving his talk, they had a brother look around outside and he said he didn't see any tornado, so the speaker told us to remain in our seats and continue listening to the speaker. How idiotic! It is also ironic that this is one of the key events that helped me to see how ridiculous this organization and it's way of thinking is. I made up my mind right then, that would never happen again to me.

30

Where have you turned to?

by Robert7 in

jw
friends

i am very curious, since i am myself trying to figure out where to turn to, if anywhwere.

(i am still debating if i am truly an atheist at heart and religion in general turns me off at least as of now) where have you turned to since you left the wt?

i would imagine that many people who became witnesses had spiritual needs (which is ironic why i am feeling atheist, lol) but have you gone to other churches, stopped going to church, become atheist, etc?

okie46

Finally-Free that is hilarious, Rocco is some preacher

I visited a couple of churches, but they were a turn off to me when they passed the plate and berated members from the stage for not giving more money to the church. I just couldn't feel anything at all for a while, didn't know what or who I believed in. I felt lost spiritually, could not pray at all, didn't know who to pray too. Lately, I have become very interested in zen buddhism, I like it because it focuses on how life is a continual process of trying to be a better human being and it focuses on not being judgemental but loving to those who might offend us. It encourages compassion not shunning. I just have a real problem with organized religion and how focused on the doctrines of man they are.

7

The movie..."The Green Mile"

by zeroday in

jw
friends

i have watched this movie a hundred times and everytime i cry such a powerful display of humanity...

okie46

I also love this movie, it shows how we make assumptions about people, just by looking at them, or by listening to what others may say about them, without getting to know them as a person. It shows how we have no clue about what is really inside their heart.

59

Best Concert you ever went to!!!

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

im listening to moody blues right now, remembering a concert i went to of theirs in the early 90's when i lived in missouri.

it was by far the best concert i even have been to....they are not my favorite group but i do like them.

i wish i could bottle that night up and bring it out to play again and again.

okie46

Phil Collins, 4th row on the floor, McNichols Arena, Denver, Colorado

Neil Young at Red Rocks, Denver, Colorado

Bridges to Babylon, Rolling Stones at Owen Field, Oklahoma University, Norman

And Bullfrog Blues that used to play on Friday nights, in the early 90's at the Royal Tavern in Manitou Springs, Colorado were pretty darn good, a lot of Stevie Ray Vaughn and Grateful Dead stuff.

I wish I could have gone to a Grateful Dead concert.

110

Well, The Elders & Circuit Overseer Came By Tonight To See If We Are Celeb.

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

hello dear friends.... well..the saga continues!!

as many of you know last new years the jws attacked our "frosty" and egged our home.

" the co said, "so you are both not willing to meet with the elders..?".

okie46

Lady Liberty, I do remember last year when they were harrassing you and I can not believe they are still stalking you and your family. What the hell is wrong with these people? Why can't they just let it go. They just want to hang on like a dog tick and suck the life out of you. It makes me so mad, that they can't realize that sometimes people just want to go away and be left to live their own lives. I think they are so brain washed they can not think for themselves anymore.

I have been out 4 years now and have two christmas trees inside and lights out front and I am still afraid some of my family will come over (they never do, not even when I had surgery recently, not even my children), but the point is I am still afraid sometimes of being in trouble which is so dumb, since I da'd myself. So I admire your courage!! Good for you for telling them how the cow ate the cabbage.

I find that christmas lights still give me the sense of childlike wonder that I felt when we decorated before my dad left and before my mom became a jw. I wish we could have them on all year round.

15

OH the IRONY! JW Organization's homepage today

by valkyrie in

irony?

or sheer hypocrisy?.

from the watchtower society-website's homepage:.

okie46

WTF??? This makes me sick, why don't they take their own advice and admit all the lies they have told themselves. Oh, guess that advice only applies to the rank and file, not the WTS Organization itself. How about telling the truth about all the deceitful things the Organization did to benefit it's own status and work in the U.S. along with other countries. Hypocrites.

9

Mental health and JW's

by drewrocks in

i'm hoping someone can clear this up for me.

i was recently released from an inpatient behavioral health unit.

i was wondering jw's stance on mental disorders and tratment.

okie46

I was associated for over 35 years and knew many in every congregation I ever went to who struggled with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. I knew several who were hospitalized and a few who committed suicide eventually. Many years ago the society did made statements to the effect that if someone was struggling with mental illness, that it was thought that they may be having problems with demon possession. However, through the years the society did lighten up, and become more educated in realizing that there are many reasons that a person may have mental health issues. The biggest reason being that it may a chemical imbalance in the brain which can be corrected with antidepressants or other helpful medications. It then became okay to take medication when needed, although they still cautioned you from going to "worldly therapists who might lead you astray from your beliefs". There was counsel given for brothers and sisters, especially the elders to show compassion to those suffering from mental illness and depression, and not make it harder for them to cope by judging them if someone needed treatment. ETA: At one point about 6 years ago, I was so depressed that I did not care if I went to sleep and never woke up, part of my problem was chemical imbalance, part was a bad marriage I couldn't get out of, part was being a part of a religion I found hard to live up to. I did take antidepressants and went to a counselor and the counselor helped me immensely to be able to do what I needed to do to get better. My youngest son also went to a counselor at one point when he was disfellowshipped and it helped him to realize he wanted to be reinstated. So Therapists don't always lead to people leaving the organization as some ffear.

I found some research which showed that Jehovah's Witnesses's as a group have a much higher rate of mental illness than other religions, it was not proven whether people who are more prone to depression and other mental issues are more drawn to that type of religious environment or if is the pressure and subsequent guilt people feel from having to live such a strict religion and feeling they can not possibly live up to the ideals put before them that are causing more mental illnesses among JW's.

Many religions and people in general look down on those who seek help for mental disorders and need to take medication. There is a stigma in general in this world when someone has a mental illness. Something that amazes me is how many people in our world who have made significant contributions, discoveries and accomplishments in spite of suffering from severe mental illness, depression and bipolar, etc. So if you have this illness, read Kay Redfield Jamison's book "An Unquiet Mind", read about John Forges Nash in "A Beautiful Mind", read about Albert Einstein and even some popular actors and writers today who suffer from this illness and what you can also do to overcome and if not overcome it then to have the most full life that you are able to. Most important, if you need medication and counseling, please take full advantage and not let anyone tell you otherwise, you owe it to yourself to get as much help and support as you need to function to your best ability. There is nothing wrong with getting help, what is wrong is when people tell others to not get the help they need to function.

God bless you if you are struggling, many are and don't be ashamed to ask for help. Medical science and the breakthroughs in treating mental illness is also a gift from God. Ignore those who would try to discourage you from accepting help if you need it. I am passionate about this subject because I lost a few friends who did not get the help they needed to survive. I hope you make it.

40

Elder Pedophiles that you personally know of . . .

by JK666 in

after the ambiguous response by the wts to the nbc broadcast, i would like to know how many of you had an "elder chester molester" in your own congregation?.

we had an elder that molested his daughter's best friend when she was 14 years old.

the elders in the congregation tried to keep the matter quiet and handled the matter privately.

okie46

I personally knew of one without a doubt, he was accused by several young ones of molesting them, but for years, the elders in that congregation did not believe them and even told the accusers they would be disfellowshipped if they kept talking about it. Eventually this elder admitted to molesting dozens of young people. I heard the number was either 30 or 50, but that may have been inflated. Sadly, I think his son may have been one of them. The son was disfellowshipped as an adult for being homosexual and eventually committed suicide. The scary part is that when I was a teenager, about 14, this elder counseled me privately, alone in his home for what was considered loose conduct and now I wonder if he used that information for his own sexual gratification or if I had been one of his intended targest. I do know several young people that he caused much pain and grief to and it scars them to this day. He was disfellowshipped for a year and then reinstated, but the young people he abused still suffer and his son who was one of my beloved friends could not deal with his emotional pain and ended his life. I knew of a couple of other men in another congregation, though not elders that also were pedophiles. One served time in prison and was disfellowshipped and coming to meetings to be reinstated. There was never an announcement made from the stage, but book study conductors were warning parents to keep on eye on their young ones around him and especially to not let them go to the rest room alone, and that was at the kingdom hall of all places.